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Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Do you remember my 'From Mama to Bubba (1)' post? Well, this is another little handmade gift from me to my little beauty even though it is not necessarily the second in terms of order. However, just to make it easy to track on the blog, I have named it as the second.

My daughter is a happy little girl. She loves her pink and she loves her tutus. She loves dancing and singing. She is clever and energetic. I wanted to make something that I believed she would love and luckily, my mother instinct was right!

Using one of her favourite tops, which was becoming too small for her to wear especially in the next summer months, I made her a dress. It was actually my first time type of a project with a gathered skirt. The Internet is definitely not short on turning t-shirts to dresses, nor does it disappoint one in gathered skirt tutorials. I did not actually follow a particular tutorial as I had a clear idea on what I wanted to make with that top. I simply used my common sense and current ability to sew and put it all together.

I used a wide ribbon not only because it looks good but also to hide the unpleasant look of the joint where the pink top and the gathered skirt are sewn together. Even though my petite daughter can get in and out of the dress without much hassle for the moment, it is obvious that the dress will not last long for her as it is not flexible. I should have made the waist flexible. Well, lets take it as a note to self for the next time!

What I love about this project of mine is that first of all, it made my precious one happy and that is totally priceless. Secondly, it is an upcycling project and my daughter will get to use one of her favourite tops for a bit longer instead of having to say farewell to it very soon. Also, it is frilly, girly, handmade and my own effort for my daughter. It is also a part of a learning process too. To me, it is a win-win. What do you think?

Thursday, 3 April 2014

About
the Author: Chris Wimmer is an urban hydroponic hobbyist who uses hydroponics
to maximize his 400 square foot yard and extend the short Chicago growing
season. Chris blogs about his hydroponic experiences at CaptainHydroponics.com.

Incorporating the elements of a hydroponic
system into outdoor gardening is the best way to ensure you get the biggest
yields and healthiest most nutrient-dense fruits, veggies, and herbs come
harvest time!

With indoor hydroponics, proper lighting
can be a challenge from a budget perspective, but with the powerful and “free”
sun shining down on your crops, bigger yields are always possible using a
soil-less, automated growing system.

Hydroponics
Defined:

Hydroponics maximize nutrient and oxygen
uptake in plants by eliminating soil from the mix. Plants are rooted in an
inert, bacteria free media such as peat moss, tree bark fibers, rockwool,
spagnum, perlite, clay or stone.

There are hundreds of variations to the
media used, but all provide a non-restrictive base for the plant's root system;
where a feeding solution containing water, oxygen, and fertilizer can be
introduced to the plants every few minutes via an automated watering system.

Slow and steady wins the race...

The plant's root system is “spoon-fed” what
it needs, then the excess drains out of the bottom of the planter, and back to
a nearby reservoir where it's held until a pump's activated via a timer a few
minutes later, and the plants receive another feeding.

Soil-free keeps the root system clean and
healthy, eliminates the plants wasting time searching for nutrients in the
soil.This maximizes the plant's ability
to produce healthy greens, veggies, fruits, or flowers.

Soil suffocates...

Soil, by comparison can retain too much water,
allowing bacteria to form (which bugs and parasites just love) and smothering
the root system of the plant blocking oxygen uptake.

Calcium and salt levels build in the soil,
slowly restricting its ability to uptake nutrients during the vegetation and
blooming phases. The plant's root system is also forced to grow downward in
search of more nutrient and oxygen-rich soil.

This means the plant has to use the energy
it receives from the sun (photosynthesis) to grow a larger root system, rather
than fortifying its stalk and producing seed-bearing fruits, veggies, flowers,
etc.

Benefits of
Hydroponics:

Plants get all the nutrients they need – no wasted water or
fertilizer (25% of that used in soil grows)

Little if any pesticides are needed – many crop eating bugs
live in soil

Bigger yields – up to 10 times larger than soil

Less babysitting your garden – an automated system can thrive
virtually on its own

No weeding – weeds need soil to grow

Crop
Suggestions:

You can grow anything hydroponically but it's
important to do your research beforehand. There are many guides, videos, and
blogs out there which it can be difficult to decide where to start.

If you're just getting started, stick to
compact plants that don't require too much space, until you learn the ropes of
setting up your feeding system, maintaining a proper PH, and all the other
particulars. Corn, squash, zucchini, and melons are all best avoided as they
are large or create large vine systems.

Based on your crops of choice you can then
pick the best system.For herbs and
lettuce like veggies, I’d suggest starting with a simple lettuce raft. For larger fruits and vegetables, I’d
suggest starting with a basic bucket system which you can find on instructables.com.